The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero's Journey:
· Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
· Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
· Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
This deconstruction is best understood by watching the film simultaneously...
FADE IN: Music and scenery of India; the Ordinary World of the jungle.
Meeting the Supernatural Aid / Mentor and the Hero; hero's back story: Bagheera finds the orphan Mowgli, who is raised by Akela the wolf et al.
Foreshadow of the Adventure: Bagheera knows that one day Mowgli will have to return.
Call to Adventure: Shere Khan has returned and Mowgli must go back to the man village.
Resistance to the Call: Daddy Wolf doesn't want "his son" to go.
Pushed into the Journey: Bagheera agrees to take Mowgli to the man village.
Developing the Antagonism: Bagheera explains why Shere Khan wants to kill Mowgli.
Refusal: Mowgli doesn't want to leave his Ordinary World.
Reviewing the First Threshold from afar: "what up the tree?"
Unprepared for the First Threshold: Mowgli has difficulty climbing the tree.
Conflict with the Shape Shifter in the Inner Cave: Mowgli hypnotised by Kaa.
Saved by the Mentor: Bhageera saves Mowgli.
Hero saves Mentor: Mowgli saves Bhageera from Kaa.
Meeting Allies: Mowgli meets the elephants.
Foreshadow of a future confrontation: "just you wait until I get you in my coils."
Physical Separation: Mowgli pushes Bhageera away; Bhageera leaves him to fend for himself.
Entering the World of the Transformation: Entering Baloo territory.
Meeting a new Mentor: Mowgli meets Baloo.
Transformation; Trial 1 (passive): learning to growl.
Transformation; Trial 2 (passive): looking for the "bare necessities."
Transformation; Trial 3 (active): Mowgli sings along; becomes a bear.
Meeting the Oracle: come and get him champ; the monkeys take Mowgli.
Conflict on the Journey to the Sword: Baloo fights with the monkeys.
Convergence: Allies converge: Baloo calls Bhageera.
The Ideal: King Louis can fix it so that Mowgli stays in the jungle; he wants to learn how to make fire.
Entering the World of the Sword disguised in the Wolves Clothing: Baloo and Bhageera disguise themselves in monkey clothes.
Seizing the Sword: Baloo and Bhageera grab Mowgli.
Near Death Experience: Bhageera and Baloo nearly die escaping from the Monkey Kingdom.
Reward: Mowgli gets to rest.
Atonement with the Father: Bhageera confronts Baloo; Mowgli has to return to the man village.
Apotheosis: Baloo realises that Bhageera is right; Mowlgli can't be a bear.
Ultimate Boon: Mowgli likes being a bear.
Refusal of the Return: Mowgli want to return to the Man Village; accuses Baloo of being just like Bhageera.
Magic Flight: Mowgli runs and Baloo and Bhageera pursue.
Developing the Antagonism and its nature: Shere Khan hunts the baby Deer.
Reintroducing Old Allies: we meet the elephants again.
Antagonist pulled toward the Final Confrontation: Shere Khan learns about the lost Mowgli.
Resisting the Pull to the Final Confrontation: Colonel Hathi resists helping.
Antagonist pushes toward the confrontation: Shere Khan searches for Mowgli.
Hero changed: Mowgli doesn't trust anyone anymore.
Shape Shifter finds a reason to turn: Kaa wants to help Mowgli.
Shape Shifter turns; Antagonist's power over the Shape Shifter demonstrated: Kaa lies to Shere Khan and saves Mowgli; Shere Khan very free with his claws.
Antagonist confident of victory: Shere Khan thinks Mowgli is "a helpless little lad."
Rescue from Without: the vultures can make Mowgli an honorary vulture; he has new friends and dances again.
Master of the Two Worlds (catharsis 1): Battling Shere Khan; Mowgli uses fire to defeat his foe.
Catharsis 2: Baloo is alive.
Physical Celebration: Baloo, Mowgli and Bhageera physically joyous at their victory.
Freedom to Live: Mowgli pulled into the New World (by the girl).
FADE OUT: Bhageera and Baloo dances away.